Omaha daily bee., 1887-08-28
Was IL Improper ?

mulgate tH6 OiIlCt3l pTOCeculuxS VI tue
National Conferences, of Charities and
Corrections goes out OF It, way to ar
raign and denounce me for remarks made
at the reception given to the conference
board Thursday evening. Passing by the
malicious and slanderous filings of that
paper in this connection, propose to
discuss the propriety of my remarks
which have been branded as discredit.
able and disgusting. We are told that
"for the purpose of satisfying low and
depraved appetite Rosewater so far for.
got the proprieties of the occasion as to
introduce politics and to attach some ex.
state officials"
Now wherein can any part of my
speech at the reception of the conference
be tortured into an attempt to crafty
morbid appetite for slandering political
opponentsy Those who were present will
remember that my speech was chiefly
devoted to = review of the marvellous
growth of Omaha, coupled with cita-
ton of facts and figures IN suppsst Of
her claims as great industrial and com.
mercial center.
The only reference to state affairs
made by me was to recall the fact that
| in Nebraska the press had been largely
| instrumental in arousing public senti
| ment in behalf of the reforms in penal
and charitable institutions for which the
conference is now laboring. In support
| of my assertion l cited the fact that
| twelve years ago our convicts
were subjected to system of torture,
which was only broken up by exposure
through the press, compelling legisa-
tive investigation that was followed by
the prohibition of the cruelties then prac-
ticed at the penltentiary. Although this
reform was brought about by my per-
sonal efforts and those of the BEE, no
reference was made by myself to that
fact and the credit was given 10 tho press
in general.
My assailant shows even more ig-
norance than malice when he attempts to
arouse sympathy for the ex-state official
who introduced the torture policy into
the Nebraska penitentiary. For his bene-
fit l will quote from the journal of the
Nebraska house of representatives, ses-
sion of 1875. During that session
charges were preferred by myself,
through the Bee that convicts
were being brutally tortured, hung by
their wrists and, thumbs, tied down in
bull-rings and mercilessly starved in
dark cells. An investigation of the
charges was ordered BY the legislature
and the testimony taken, which is printed
with the House Journal. not 'eonly sus.
tanned the charges but brought out facts
more damaging than were published by
the BEE. 1t was shown that one convict
had been hung up by the wrists for nine
days, and his health completely broken.
Others had been manned for life by tor
ture in the stocks. The following extract
from the reports of the committee, page
800, will suffice:
Your committee find from the evil
deuce herewith submitted, that cruel and
unusual punishments have been inflicted
upon the convlcts confined in the pcn
itentiary of this state, since the pr esent
warden has had charge, and that bar
barOIs and inhuman practices have been
resorted to IN the management of
the prisoners. We further find that
Nobes, the deputy warden of the prison
and. Kalkow, Freeman and Cochran
guards, should be promptly discharged
for cruel, barbarous and inhuman treat.
ment of the convicts. and never agair
employed in or about the prison. There
should be thorough and complete re
| formation IN the treatment of convicts
and the voice of humanity and reason
heard and needed in the prison disci
pline. The stocks and the bullrine
should be abolished. The prisoners
should not be confined on seats in on,
position during the Sabbath day; tn,
prison inspectors should be more diligen
and watchiul."
, This report was signed by L. Enyant
chairman of the committee, John Bau
mer and Henry Fischer, members.
A minority report recommended no
only the removal of the subordinates
but the warden also.
The warden was promptly removed
:. but Nobes, the deputy, who was tn
y father of the torture system, was pro
noted to his place and retained in charg
of the penitentiary until Governo
Thayer made the change last winter
Right here at Omaha the inmates of th
deaf mute institute were subjected t
!. cruel and brutal treatment. and an in
vestigation, conducted personally by me
was followed by the removal of the super
.. intendent and the appointment of tn
present efficient head of that institution
Prof. Gillespie. Cruel exposure of tn
boys confined at the reform school by in
sufficient clothing and lack of shoes i
midwinter, was brought to public motto
through my personal visit at the institu
ton four years ago. Humane treatmer
was demanded and promptly secured.
Was there any improperly in my al
lusion to these historic facts and th
:. abolition of abuses in state institutions
II SO, mistake the object of the confer
. ence of charities and corrections.
4 II. ROsEwATER.
Is The rush to Europe this season hs
9 been unparalleled, The trans -Atiantl